Nice... Those rail benders are pretty trick! But as a few others have already mentioned, longer handles, sufficiently more reinforced would make the job easier and safer... Next time, when cutting up a fallen tree, cut up a part of the tree that doesn't span the track, then lay that part of the branch (which is large enough in diameter to protect the rail) inside the gauge. Any branch that you cut that should fall on the track shouldn't damage the rail that way...

When the wind took next door's gazebo (along with the big cement blocks weighing it down) over the fence and on to my track and bent it, I removed the length of rail from the track where affected before straightening. I was surprised not only by the left-right kink in the track, but also the up-down, and I would have never got it back dead straight without taking the rail off the track first. Aluminium (Aluminum depending on where you are) track will always be susceptible to getting damaged by getting a big impact, it's the nature of the beast (luckily it shouldn't be a particularly common occurrence) .

Holy smokes No flags, no lookouts, no form B’s, no derails set. Some real Blatant rule breaking going on here. Kidding aside. Neat tool an design looks like something that can be approved upon at home with a welder and scrap iron. It does seem to leave a bit of “charm” in a sense of a smaller railroad or a less maintained yard with kinda looks realistic in a way. A rail saver of sort. Kinda cool. Stay safe, stay alive. 👍🏻

On these frustrating days try to stay positive. Big hugz and hope the streek of breaking stuff comes to an end.

don't get discouraged! it WILL get better...but...in the future, you may want to consider beginning to introduce steel rail, not only to reduce kinking from having things drop on it, but helping to keep the track in line and also to handle the weights you put on your track shipping things like pellets. I think the problems you have with keeping gauge and line simpy is aluminum rail not being able to do the job Compared to the typical "hobby" outdoor railroad the axle loadings you put on your track are massive...you really ARE running a narrow gauge railroad, not a "live steam" railroad.

that takes a bunch of force to fix the bends! you might have to make them a bit taller, and heavier at the clamping area! please be careful that you do not get hurt by a failure of the “ benders” ! good luck reinforcing and fixing the tool. great job Eric and Aaron! it was great you could run over the damaged area with out derailing. have a great day.

I don’t have a little rail system like that but Situations like this makes me want to try and build a miniature tamper with an attachment for bent rail repair .

Not an easy day, but it´s improving. Do you think that steel rail would have less damaged ? Thanks for the hard friendly work session.

@ 1:25 LOLOLOLOL!

square or round tubing where one slides inside or outside of each other with a series of holes for extension would give you lots of leverage without having to bend over and would be collapsible for storage.

supervisor's train has been dispatched to over see the track crew

Next up, how i flush my toilet.

But... why not dismantle the track before bringing down the tree?